ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov. 8 (PIA) - No one is left behind with the "whole-of-nation" approach of the government under President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, to attain inclusive and sustainable peace.

A total of 42 indigenous peoples (IPs) in Barangay Midatag, Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte completed their skills training in Carpentry NC II and Raise Organic Chicken (Leading to Organic Agriculture Production NC II) under the USWAG IPs “Unified and Sustainable Welfare AGri program for IPs”.

The initiative is a project of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC).

The graduation ceremony led by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Zamboanga del Norte was held on November 4, attended by IPs of Barangay Midatag who received their Certificates of Training provided by the Provincial Training Center – Sindangan.

Representatives of the PRLEC member agencies were also present including the local government unit of Leon B. Postigo, Department of Agriculture (DA), 44th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

As part of the sustainable development interventions, DTl-ZN, under the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program will provide grocery items worth 10,000 to the sari-sari stores in the barangay, (CDA)-9 will conduct a Pre-Registration Seminar to established association in the area, BFAR presented their scholarship programs and services to the residents and DA provided possible interventions for the agricultural development of the barangay.

Punong Barangay Reynaldo Baldicantos expressed his gratitude for the program led by TESDA. As one of the beneficiaries of the training, he assured they will nurture the skills training provided because it will be their way to change the course of their lives.

Residents in Brgy. Midatag were also provided livelihood skills training in rag-making and tempura-making for added income and make them productive individuals contributing to community development.

The USWAG lPs Project aims to specifically integrate and sustain the lPs through capacitating them by providing agriculture-related training programs such as Carpentry NC II and Raise Organic Chicken. (RVC/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte/with reports from Shekinah Diosmano-TESDA-ZN)